The reaction of dithioerythritol and dithiothreitol with As(III), Sb(III), and Bi(III) compounds

Abstract

Arsenic trichloride and As2O3 reacted in methanol with dithioerythritol (DTE) and dithiothreitol (DTT) giving the known bicyclic adducts DTE-As and DTT-As, while Sb2O3 (in DMSO) and Bi2O3 (in MeOH) did not react. The oligo- or polymeric phenylarsine oxide reacted with DTE/DTT giving the cyclic adduct DTE-AsPh, while the structure of the DTT-AsPh is not certain. Under a 1:1 stoichiometry, antimony(III) and bismuth(III) chlorides as well as bismuth(III) nitrate pentahydrate afforded the respective monomeric, cyclic adducts with DTE/DTT in methanol, but in acetonitrile were also spectroscopically detected NH4 + and acetamide (AcNH2) occluded in the adducts. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of Sb(III) and Bi(III) complexes showed broad to very broad signals. The exchange reaction between complexed DTE/DTT and 2,3-dithio-1-propanol (British Anti-Lewisite) was also studied. .